Overview

The goal of the political science undergraduate curriculum is to maximize students' capacities to analyze and interpret political events and governmental processes. In addition to acquiring general knowledge about government and political behavior, students also learn the analytical skills relevant to particular political systems (their own and others'), and to problems of most immediate consequence and concern to them.

The four major objectives of the department's curriculum are to:

• Identify and describe political structures, rules, behaviors and environments which shape political action.
• Explain and employ statistical and methodological techniques to analyze information.
• Identify, comprehend, and apply comparative, theoretical, or conceptual approaches to actors and their policies.
• Develop the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate political phenomena.

The major courses are designed to present a coherent portrait of the discipline. Students begin with a general introduction to national, state, and local politics followed by required courses in political methodology. Finally, students are exposed to at least four major areas of the discipline. The department also offers options for students who desire a concentration in pre-law, public policy/administration, or international studies. Students may choose any 18 hours (6 advanced) for a minor. Those who want a specialization may concentrate courses in areas of public law; policy and administration; comparative and international politics; American national government; political parties, group politics, and elections.  To graduate a student must earn a 2.0 GPA.

The political science student is exposed to a multifaceted and highly regarded faculty, many of whom have received regional and national honors for teaching, service, and research. Upon graduation, UT Arlington political science majors are prepared to compete for a wide variety of jobs in both the private and public sectors.

Admission to Department of Political Science Degree Programs

Students should have completed 30 hours of core with 30 hours at UT Arlington, or 40 hours of core with 12 hours at UT Arlington with an overall GPA greater than 2.0. Students may be accepted as pre-political science majors if the above standards are not met.

Teacher Certification

Students interested in Texas Teacher Certification should consult the College of Education section of this catalog for the most recent changes in requirements regarding admission to Teacher Education, completion of University programs in preparation for certification, and eligibility for certification after graduation.

Oral Communication and Computer Use Competencies

Students majoring in political science are required to demonstrate computer use and oral communication competencies. Computer use proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. successful completion of POLS 3310 RESEARCH METHODS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS; or
2. successful completion of CSE 1301 COMPUTER LITERACY or INSY 2303 INTRODUCTION TO M.I.S. AND DATA PROCESSING; or
3. successful completion of other courses approved by the Undergraduate Assembly; or
4. passing the University computer use competency exam.

Oral communication proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following:

COMS 1301	FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING	3
COMS 2305	BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION	3
COMS 3315	COMMUNICATION FOR EDUCATORS	3

1. successful completion of specific political science courses approved by the department; or
2. successful completion of one of the following:
3. successful completion of other courses approved by the Undergraduate Assembly.

Students should discuss these options with their undergraduate advisor who may also provide a list of other courses approved by the University to meet these requirements.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science

All students who wish to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science must complete the following coursework. In completing this coursework, they will satisfy the University's core curriculum requirements.

Pre-Professional Courses
General Core Requirements		42
UNIV 1131	STUDENT SUCCESS (or UNIV 1101)	1
Recommended Core Requirements
ENGL 1301	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I (or suitable substitute)	3
ENGL 1302	RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II (or suitable substitute)	3
HIST 1301	HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865	3
HIST 1302	HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT	3
MATH 1301	CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS (or MATH 1302)	3
MATH 1308	ELEMENTARY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS (or MATH 1309)	3
POLS 2311	GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1	3
POLS 2312	STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1	3
Social or cultural anthropology; archaeology; social/political/cultural geography; economics; criminal justice; psychology; sociology; gender, women. and sexuality studies courses. This fulfills the Social/Cultural studies requirement. 9 hours
Program Requirements Six hours of English literature as ENGL 2303, ENGL 2309, or ENGL 2319 or by approval 6
Modern and Classical Languages: 1441, 1442		8
Sufficient electives to give the total number of hours required for the degree
Professional Courses
Major
POLS 2311	GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1	3
POLS 2312	STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1	3
POLS 3310	RESEARCH METHODS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS (or equivalent)	3
Select at least one course from any four of the five areas listed:		12
Area I Political Behavior and Processes:
POLS 3306	LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE
POLS 3307	COMPARATIVE STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS
POLS 3311	PUBLIC OPINION
POLS 3327	AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES
POLS 4316	WOMEN IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS
POLS 4317	ETHNIC GROUP POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES
POLS 4318	POLITICS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS
POLS 4319	POLITICS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS
POLS 4324	ELECTORAL BEHAVIOR
POLS 4326	ELECTION STRATEGY AND CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT
POLS 4330	THE U.S. PRESIDENCY
POLS 4333	PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN DOMESTIC POLICY MAKING
Area II Comparative Politics:
POLS 3301	INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL ISSUES	3
POLS 3304	INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
POLS 3317	MEXICAN POLITICS AND U.S.-MEXICO RELATIONS
POLS 3328	INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE EAST POLITICS
POLS 4359	CITIZENSHIP IN THE AMERICAS	3
POLS 4361	THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT OF RUSSIA AND THE SUCCESSOR STATES
POLS 4362	RUSSIA AND THE SUCCESSOR STATES TODAY
POLS 4369	THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT	3
POLS 4371	THE POLITICS AND FOREIGN POLICY OF ISRAEL
Area III International Politics:
POLS 3302	INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS	3
POLS 3319	CAUSES OF WAR	3
POLS 4311	INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY	3
POLS 4312	INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS	3
POLS 4336	CONTEMPORARY UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY
POLS 4360	THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
POLS 4365	FOREIGN POLICIES OF RUSSIA AND THE SUCCESSOR STATES
POLS 4370	INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
POLS 4372	HUMAN SECURITY, VIOLENCE, AND SCARCITY	3
POLS 4373	POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW	3
POLS 4375	SCIENCE FICTION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS	3
Area IV Public Law:
POLS 3330	JUDICIAL BEHAVIOR AND THE JUDICIAL PROCESS
POLS 3331	CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CIVIL LIBERTIES
POLS 3333	JURISPRUDENCE
POLS 3336	STATE COURTS	3
POLS 4331	U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENT POWER
POLS 4332	U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
Area V Public Administration and Policy Studies:
POLS 3303	INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
POLS 3305	GOVERNMENT IN URBAN AMERICA
POLS 3309	HEALTH POLITICS, POLICY, AND ADVOCACY	3
POLS 3312	INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
POLS 4303	PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLITICAL PROCESS
POLS 4321	INTEREST GROUPS AND POLITICAL ADVOCACY	3
POLS 4340	FEDERAL SOCIAL POLICY	3
POLS 4350	HEALTH POLITICS AND POLICY	3
Students have the option of competing a departmental specialization (between Pre-law, Policy/Public Admin, International studies, and Political behavior and processes).		12-18
Pre-Law:
Requiring a minimum of 9 hours in the Public Law area of Political Science, plus 9 hours of courses to be chosen from the following:
COMS 3310	GROUP COMMUNICATION THEORY
CRCJ 4301	THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM
ENGL 4371	ADVANCED ARGUMENTATION
HIST 3330	U.S. LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, COLONIAL TO 1877	3
HIST 3331	U.S. LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, 1877 TO PRESENT	3
HIST 4330	GREAT ANGLO-AMERICAN TRIALS	3
HIST 4331	U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES	3
HIST 4359	BRITISH CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY	3
PHIL 1301	FUNDAMENTALS OF REASONING
PHIL 2311	LOGIC
PHIL 3320	PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
SOCI 3313	CRIMINOLOGY
SOCI 3357	LAW AND SOCIETY
BLAW 3311	LAW I
BLAW 3312	LAW II
Policy/Public Administration:
Requiring a minimum of 12 hours in the Policy/Public Administration area of Political Science
International Studies:
Requiring a minimum of 12 hours in any combination of the Comparative Politics and International Politics areas of Political Science
Political Behavior and Processes:
Requiring a minimum of 12 hours in the Political Behavior and Processes area of Political Science
Total Hours		120

¹

Students are required to complete 12 hrs of 3000/4000 level POLS coursework to bring their total number of POLS coursework hours to 36.  The 36 hours to includePOLS 2311 and POLS 2312

Students majoring in Political Science will pursue this general course of study in the discipline AND they may declare a specific area of concentration by filing a statement of intent with the Political Science Department. The area of concentration will require that the student complete the requirements for the general degree plan while also fulfilling certain requirements for the concentration. All students will receive the B.A. in Political Science. Those completing the selected specialization will also receive recognition of completion.

The purpose of the specializations is to provide the student with a focused, systematic, and in-depth educational experience in the context of a broad liberal arts education.

Political Science classes may be used toward the major requirements or minor requirements (at the discretion of the department offering the minor), but not both.

Oral Communication and Computer Use Competencies

Students majoring in political science are required to demonstrate computer use and oral communication competencies. Computer use proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. successful completion of POLS 3310 RESEARCH METHODS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS; or
2. successful completion of CSE 1301 COMPUTER LITERACY or INSY 2303 INTRODUCTION TO M.I.S. AND DATA PROCESSING; or
3. successful completion of other courses approved by the Undergraduate Assembly; or
4. passing the University computer use competency exam.

Oral communication proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following:

COMS 1301	FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING	3
COMS 2305	BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION	3
COMS 3315	COMMUNICATION FOR EDUCATORS	3

1. successful completion of specific political science courses approved by the department; or
2. successful completion of one of the following:
3. successful completion of other courses approved by the Undergraduate Assembly.

Students should discuss these options with their undergraduate advisor who may also provide a list of other courses approved by the University to meet these requirements.

Requirement for a Minor in Political Science

A minor in political science requires 18 semester hours, at least twelve of which must be 3000/4000 level.

Political Science classes may be used toward the major requirements or minor requirements (at the discretion of the department offering the minor), but not both.

Fast Track Program in Political Science  The Fast Track program allows outstanding senior undergraduate Political Science (POLS) students to take up to three graduate courses (5000-level courses) to replace up to nine credit hours of advanced POLS undergraduate courses (3000- or 4000-level courses); the credit hours earned in these graduate courses can then be applied to both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and to the Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science. Those who successfully complete the program will be automatically admitted to the Graduate School. They will not be required to take any qualifying test, complete an application for admission to the Graduate School, arrange for letters of reference, or pay an application fee. This enables students to complete their MA degree in a shorter time period.

Applying to the POLS Fast Track Program  Undergraduate students apply to the Department of Political Science by completing a Fast Track application form available from the POLS academic advisor. Students will be notified by the Department of their acceptance into the Fast Track program.

Unconditional Admission

1. The student must be within 30 hours of completing a BA in Political Science at UTA.

2. The student must have completed 30 hours of coursework at UTA.

3. The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all coursework at all schools and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all coursework completed at UTA.

4. The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 in all POLS courses completed at UTA.

5. The student must have completed 12 credit hours of the following specific undergraduate POLS courses, with a GPA of at least 3.5 in these courses. (Courses from other universities or colleges that cover the same or similar material cannot replace any of these specific UTA courses.)

• POLS 2312 State and Local Government or its equivalent from another institution

• POLS 3310 Analyzing Politics

• POLS 3302 Introduction to International Relations, POLS 3303 Introduction to Public Administration, POLS 3304 Introduction to Comparative Politics, POLS 3305 Government in Urban America, POLS 3307 Comparative State and Local Politics, POLS 3311 Public Opinion, POLS 3312 Introduction to Public Policy Analysis, OR POLS 3333 Jurisprudence

• One substantive 4000-level POLS course from any of the area concentrations (excluding internships and conference or directed readings courses).

Provisional Admission

A student may gain provisional admission if, by the semester in which application is made, he or she has already completed 3 out of the 4 required POLS courses (listed above) with a GPA of at least 3.5 in them, with the 4^th course to be completed in the semester of application. All other requirements above must be met. Provisional admission will be changed to unconditional admission upon satisfactory completion of remaining requirements. Students failing to meet all requirements at the end of their semester of application will be removed from the Fast Track program. Any credits earned prior to removal from the program will be applied to the undergraduate degree only. None of the other benefits of the Fast Track program will apply. Provisionally admitted students who have been removed from the program may subsequently apply to graduate programs via the normal application process, paying all fees and meeting all relevant admission criteria. Admission will not be automatic as it will be subject to the normal admission practices of the Department of Political Science and of the Office of Graduate Studies.

Denial

Students who do not meet the requirements set out shall be denied admission to the Fast Track program. They may still apply to the graduate program through the regular application process. Admission will not be automatic as it will be subject to the normal admission practices of the Department of Political Science and of the Office of Graduate Studies.

Good Standing

In order to remain in the Fast Track program, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and must earn grades of B or better in all Fast Track-approved graduate courses that will be used to satisfy undergraduate and graduate degree requirements of the Fast Track program.

2. Students must enroll in at least 2 graduate courses prior to receiving their bachelor’s degree, and receive at least a B in each course.

Students who, at any time, do not meet these requirements will be obliged to leave the Fast Track program. Any graduate credits earned will be applied only to the undergraduate degree, and none of the other benefits of participation in the Fast Track program will apply. They may apply to the MA program as a regular student after receiving their BA.

For more information about the POLS Fast Track Program, please contact the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Political Science.